Waterproof mailbag cover with protected opening



Feb. 24, 1948. A L N 2,436,369

WATERPROOF MAIL BAG COVER WITH PROTECTED OPENING Filed May 26,- 1944 INVENTOR. Mannie. AHe Y1 1; fl v/ BY ATTo RNIY- Patented Feb. 24, 194

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATERPROOF MAILBAG COVER WITH PROTECTED OPENING 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a cover for Government mail bags of the type known in the postal service as Saratoga bags, and one of its leading objects is to provide a cover which may be slipped over the top of a Government mail bag, to protect its contents from rain and snow, and which may be opened, without removing the cover from the bag, to permit of the selective withdrawal of letters or parcels from the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover of this type with a closure of the type known in the trade as slide fasteners, which pull together the sides of the opening and hold the sides coupled, using a slide for this purpose, and to provide another such closure arranged to operate in the opposite direction, to permit of selective opening of either end of the mail bag protected by the improved cover, and to further provide a shielding flap for the closures.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pattern construction for making the complete cover, consisting of two sections stitched together.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in perspective, showing the cover in place on a mail bag, illustrating the opening of the cover closed and the protective flap in shielding position over the closures.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the shielding flap folded back and one of the closures open, with a corner wing of the cover folded outwardly.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the practical construction of the invention, 5 designates a postal mail bag of the type that is carried by supporting straps on the shoulders of the carrier or postal worker, and 6 the improved top cover for the open upper end of the mail bag.

This cover is shown to include a front section 1 and a rear section 8, united to each other along the side portions 9. On each end of the assembled cover and across the top an opening it) is formed, thus Providing separable portions or lips II and [2. To the portion or lip l l the slide closure elements l3 are connected, and to the portion or lip [2 the slide closure elements H! are connected. The upper ends of both slide closure elements terminate near the longitudinal center of the opening, which thus marks the limit of closing movement of the slide 15, which is adapted to be slidably moved outwardly from the end closing position at the top center to the end of the cover, and then down the side of the cover, to the ends of the rows of closure elements l3 and M, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the top center position of the cover two additional rows of closure elements 16 and I! are connected to the lips II and I2, and are engaged by the slide l8, which in its closing position is located at the top center, and to open the two intermeshing rows I6 and I7, slide 18 is moved outwardly to the end of the top and thence downwardly over the side, in a manner similar to that shown for slide IS in Fig. 2.

When the two pairs of rows of slide closure elements, l3 and I4, and I6 and I1, are in intermeshin'g and locked relation, the entire closure system thus provided is protected by means of the flexible flap 19, which is connected to the rear section 8 and which is adapted to fold over the closures and allow the rain or snow to drain from the top, with practically no penetration of the opening at the top. This protecting flap is constructed so that it is adapted to cover the entire upper side of the cover but it extends down to the lower edge of each side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, below the ends of the rows of closure elements. The protecting flap in its normal protecting position entirely conceals the slide fasteners on the top and on both ends of the cover, but may be swung laterally of the slide fasteners to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, when all of the slide fasteners are exposed. This permits of the maximum freedom of access to the contents of the mail bag.

The postal worker can easily open the left or the right side of the cover, by sliding the slide on either pair of closure element rows outwardly from the center line or position at the top, or can open both sides of the top so as to expand the opening of the cover to the maximum.

The back wall 8 of the cover is formed with slots or openings 2| and 22, located near the upper corners thereof, through which the usual supporting straps, not shown, may be extended to connect with hooks or other means provided on the upper edge of the mailbag.

The flap i9 is made of flexible material capable of being folded outwardly of the opening, by slight stretching, and of remaining snug over the loading and discharge opening in the position shown in Fig. 1.

My improved cover provides means for preventing rain, snow and sleet, and in many cases street and industrial dust, from soiling or possibly ruining mail matter, and permits of quick and easy access to the contents of a mail bag, without removing the cover from its position on the mail bag.

It is seen, therefore, that my cover, which is made of waterproofed flexible fabric or other suitable material, will prevent claims from damaged mail, and insure safer delivery of mail matter. By providing complete protection for bag carried mail matter, carriers and-postal workers may avoid delays caused *by rain, snowand sleet, confident that the mail will not be damaged through trips taken in the rain, snow or sleet.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

The combination with a postal mailbag having an open upper end, of a protecting cover for the mail bag having an open lower endadapted to with an opening extending centrally in. the top wall and in the end Walls to points near the lower edges of the end walls, cooperating rows of slide fastener hooks eonnectedto the side edges of said top and end walls adjacent saidopening oncone side of the cover, a slidelengaging certain of said slide fasteners and movable over a midway position on the topwall to couple said engaged. slide fasteners in closed position, a slide engaging the other slide fasteners and movable to a midway position on the top wall to couple said other slide fasteners in a closed position, and a sealing flap connected to said cover on one side of said slide fasteners and adapted to overlap all of said slide fasteners and the slides thereof to prevent admission of rain water to said opening.

MANNIE ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 20, 1939 

